USO cartoonist tour stops in Ocala

By Carlos E. MedinaCorrespondent

Published: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at 6:13 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at 6:13 p.m.

In a tradition that dates back to World War II, a group of nationally-recognized cartoonists is making a USO-sponsored tour of military facilities where they use their drawing talents to try and brighten the day for soldiers and veterans. On Tuesday, the tour made a pit stop in Ocala.

A group of nine nationally syndicated cartoonists, including Rob Smith, right, who lives in Ocala, made a pit stop at Sammy's Italian Restaurant in Ocala Tuesday night. The cartoonists were traveling during a USO tour that had them in Tampa Tuesday at the VA hospital.

Doug Engle/Star-Banner

The group included Ocala resident Rob Smith Jr., who is an editorial cartoonist and caricature artist. His long career as a caricaturist, which started at Disney World in the 1960s, works well on the tours.

“I try to draw things that are forward thinking. Some of the guys are going through tough struggles, so I try to put a positive message in the drawing,” said Smith, who was born in Orlando and has lived in Ocala for nearly eight years.

Those struggling are not just injured soldiers. On Tuesday, the group visited the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa and Smith did a caricature for a homeless Vietnam veteran who was at the facility.

“I put in some of the aspects that he wanted to achieve in the future,” Smith said.

The artists don't discuss in detail what they draw during the tours.

“We don't use any of it for our promotion. It's personal. It's for them. It's a way to show that we're appreciative for what they have done and that we honor their service,” said Jeff Bacon, who was instrumental in reviving the cartoonist tour tradition in 2005.

Bacon draws the naval cartoon Broadside.

The eight cartoonist on the tour all belong to the National Cartoonist Society, which was formed after World War II and whose members have participated in USO tours throughout the decades.

Some of the biggest names in cartoons have participated, including “The Family Circus” creator Bill Keane and “Beetle Bailey” creator Mort Walker. Keane's son Jeff, who continues drawing “The Family Circus,” has also been part of the tour.

On Wednesday, the tour stopped at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and will continue to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in southeast Georgia.

There are two USO-sponsored tours each year. One in the United States and another overseas.

“When we go overseas, we represent 'Hometown, USA.' Cartoons are really non-threatening and those we meet with overseas really are happy knowing someone came all that way to visit them,” Bacon said.

Sometimes the visits can be intense. Steve Moore, the creator of “In the Bleachers,” remembers meeting a young soldier who lost both legs in Afghanistan.

“He was doing bench presses. He was this really strong, buff guy, but he was missing both his legs. I really didn't know how to approach him, so I just introduced myself and we started talking and I drew something for him,” Moore said.

For Bacon, it was a soldier he never meet that he remembers most.

The soldier suffered burns over 90 percent of his body and could not take visitors when the tour stopped at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio several years ago.

“I got a call telling me the Marine that was burned so badly that we couldn't visit with him had died. They said, 'We were cleaning out his area and the last thing we took off his wall was a Beetle Bailey cartoon signed by Mort Walker that meant a lot to him.' I always remember that,” Bacon said.

Sam Viviano, the art director of Mad Magazine, participated in his first USO tour in 2011.

“My father served in the Navy during World War II. For me, this was a way to honor him. To say thanks to the men and women who serve us and take care of us,” Viviano said. “If it wasn't for the USO we wouldn't have the opportunity to do this.”

The USO has offered entertainment and other services to the military and their families since 1941. The non-profit organization is funded through private and corporate donations.

“This is not your traditional USO program. People don't know what to expect, but they end up having something special that they can take back to their family and friends. It's a great program,” said Tracy Thede, an entertainment tour producer for the USO.

<p>In a tradition that dates back to World War II, a group of nationally-recognized cartoonists is making a USO-sponsored tour of military facilities where they use their drawing talents to try and brighten the day for soldiers and veterans. On Tuesday, the tour made a pit stop in Ocala.</p><p>The group included Ocala resident Rob Smith Jr., who is an editorial cartoonist and caricature artist. His long career as a caricaturist, which started at Disney World in the 1960s, works well on the tours.</p><p>“I try to draw things that are forward thinking. Some of the guys are going through tough struggles, so I try to put a positive message in the drawing,” said Smith, who was born in Orlando and has lived in Ocala for nearly eight years. </p><p>Those struggling are not just injured soldiers. On Tuesday, the group visited the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa and Smith did a caricature for a homeless Vietnam veteran who was at the facility.</p><p>“I put in some of the aspects that he wanted to achieve in the future,” Smith said.</p><p>The artists don't discuss in detail what they draw during the tours.</p><p>“We don't use any of it for our promotion. It's personal. It's for them. It's a way to show that we're appreciative for what they have done and that we honor their service,” said Jeff Bacon, who was instrumental in reviving the cartoonist tour tradition in 2005.</p><p>Bacon draws the naval cartoon Broadside.</p><p>The eight cartoonist on the tour all belong to the National Cartoonist Society, which was formed after World War II and whose members have participated in USO tours throughout the decades.</p><p>Some of the biggest names in cartoons have participated, including “The Family Circus” creator Bill Keane and “Beetle Bailey” creator Mort Walker. Keane's son Jeff, who continues drawing “The Family Circus,” has also been part of the tour.</p><p>On Wednesday, the tour stopped at Naval Air Station Jacksonville and will continue to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in southeast Georgia.</p><p>There are two USO-sponsored tours each year. One in the United States and another overseas.</p><p>“When we go overseas, we represent 'Hometown, USA.' Cartoons are really non-threatening and those we meet with overseas really are happy knowing someone came all that way to visit them,” Bacon said.</p><p>Sometimes the visits can be intense. Steve Moore, the creator of “In the Bleachers,” remembers meeting a young soldier who lost both legs in Afghanistan.</p><p>“He was doing bench presses. He was this really strong, buff guy, but he was missing both his legs. I really didn't know how to approach him, so I just introduced myself and we started talking and I drew something for him,” Moore said.</p><p>For Bacon, it was a soldier he never meet that he remembers most.</p><p>The soldier suffered burns over 90 percent of his body and could not take visitors when the tour stopped at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio several years ago.</p><p>“I got a call telling me the Marine that was burned so badly that we couldn't visit with him had died. They said, 'We were cleaning out his area and the last thing we took off his wall was a Beetle Bailey cartoon signed by Mort Walker that meant a lot to him.' I always remember that,” Bacon said.</p><p>Sam Viviano, the art director of Mad Magazine, participated in his first USO tour in 2011.</p><p>“My father served in the Navy during World War II. For me, this was a way to honor him. To say thanks to the men and women who serve us and take care of us,” Viviano said. “If it wasn't for the USO we wouldn't have the opportunity to do this.”</p><p>The USO has offered entertainment and other services to the military and their families since 1941. The non-profit organization is funded through private and corporate donations.</p><p>“This is not your traditional USO program. People don't know what to expect, but they end up having something special that they can take back to their family and friends. It's a great program,” said Tracy Thede, an entertainment tour producer for the USO.</p>